Games of 2012 - ranked by preference

Release Date: June 14, 2012 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

Amazing. That's really the only way to describe Persona 4 Golden. Persona 4 on the Playstation 2 was one of the best RPGs ever made already. Golden makes that RPG portable and adds in a ton of new content - content that you'll keep seeing from the beginning of the game until the credits roll. If you haven't played this game yet, play it. It does everything extremely well - the story, the gameplay, graphics, managing your time between work, school, friends, and dungeon crawling...It's all fantastic. I highly recommend this game to anyone who even just slightly likes RPGs or even to people who like good stories in their games. It's like I said at the beginning: amazing.

Release Date: December 11, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games
Genre: Adventure

The Walking Dead is a pretty nifty game that has a great story that pushes you along mixed in with a point-and-click adventure game with some action elements and quick-time events to give the game enough action to go along with the puzzles and difficult decisions along the way. I didn't quite buy all of the hype of this being 2012's Game of the Year by so many publications and websites, but after playing it, I understand why it got the hype it did. It's entertaining, it's fun, and with so many branching points in the story, it's a game that you can play over and over again and get different scenarios and conversations. It's fantastic. If you haven't played it yet, play it. You'll be glad you did.

Release Date: December 7, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Harvester Games
Developer: Harvester Games
Genre: Adventure - Point-and-Click

I absolutely LOVE this game. The Cat Lady starts out as a very, very dark game - any game where you're required to chop your arm off to advance on is probably pretty dark. However, the Cat Lady isn't just dark, with some light-hearted moments tossed in with the twisted stuff, I fell in love with the game's story. It's not without its faults - I still don't get where the stranger that visits Susan's apartment exactly fits into the story, he seemed out of place to me...But otherwise, I really enjoyed experiencing Susan Ashworth's story. With a great art design that helps it stick out as much as the story, and great controls the Cat Lady is easily one of the best point-and-click adventure games that I have ever played.

Release Date: October 9, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: Arkane Studios
Genre: Action

I love stealth. So, of course, when I saw that Dishonored encouraged, and even rewarded, players for being stealthy when playing, I was immediately interested. However, if you're more into barging into areas and killing everyone in sight, Dishonored let you do that as well. You can play Dishonored any way that you wish and the game will adapt to your style. Want to kill everyone? Naturally, you're more dangerous, so more enemies will appear to counter your threat. Want to be stealthy? Nobody knows you're around, so there's no need for so much security. Dishonored is a top-notch game, and is, quite possibly, my favorite non-remake game of 2012.

Release Date: November 8, 2012 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Simulation

When you take a glance at the 3DS activity log and notice that you've put nearly 90 hours into this game, and you're still not done playing, it's doing something right. New Leaf isn't a long RPG with a great story to push you through those hours...It's just a life simulation where you interact with your neighbors, water flowers, dig up fossils, catch bugs, go fishing, and partake in selling and buying items....That's about it. But it's done very well, with new things seemingly popping up every time you might start to feel like it's all getting a tad old. This is easily the best game in the series to date, and if you've ever wanted to try an Animal Crossing game, this is the one to get.

Release Date: November 18, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Platformer

I've been waiting for the New Super Mario Bros. series of platformers to deliver an experience like the 2D Mario games that I grew up with. New Super Mario Bros. U doesn't quite reach that level, but it comes closer than any other game in the series before it...Well, in my opinion at least. The previous games in the "New" franchise had me getting bored a few levels in. This game kept me wanting to keep playing...Something I haven't experienced from a 2D Mario game since Super Mario World. The game isn't perfect, mind you, and it still doesn't live up to the quality of the NES and SNES Mario games, but it's the best game in the "New" series by far, in my opinion.

Release Date: June 12, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Armature Studio
Genre: Compilation

While the Playstation Vita version of this compilation lacks Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (Which is kind of weird. I'd imagine the handheld game would've made the compilation on the handheld system.) it still has two of my favorite games of all-time on it...And they're in high definition, with trophies, and I can play them whenever I want, wherever I want since they're in portable form. I really can't ask for more than that. That said, the games are just as fun as they were back when they came out. If you're a Metal Gear Solid fan and you've got a Vita, you need this compilation. Likewise, if you're new to the series, this is a great place to start.

Release Date: September 14, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Subset Games
Developer: Subset Games
Genre: Strategy

It took about 10 months of me hearing how good FTL is from various friends before I finally caved in and played it. It just didn't sound like a game for me. When I finally sat down and dedicated some time to playing it, I didn't want to stop. FTL is a real-time strategy-based rougelike that has you traveling through space, fighting other spaceships, fighting enemies that have boarded your ship (or enemies while you board there's), and buying new weapons and power-ups to help you survive the mission at hand. It's simple, but dang it, it's addicting. One of my friends put it best when he said that he got more playtime out of this $10 game than most big-time releases...As of this writing, he's plugged about 104 hours into it. FTL is a great example of how an indy game can be just as good, and even better than, most of the large publishers and developers can make...Even without the fancy, schmancy graphics.

Release Date: February 21, 2012 (US)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Kojima Productions
Genre: Action

I'm surprised...This is pretty much a direct port of the Playstation 2 version of the game, without a whole lot compromised. Heck, all of the voicework seems to have made it, along with the James Bond-like Snake Eater theme song and trippy intro video, which looks quite neat with the 3D on. The controls are really the only thing holding this game down...The 3DS system doesn't have as many buttons as the PS2 controller, so some of the buttons are forced to be placed in kind of awkward places (though, if the 3DS had a second analog stick, I think it'd be fine). Once you get used to the button placements, it's not too bad...But it also never really feels like the controls are as good as the console version, either. It's worth noting that I really couldn't come up with a better button layout for the game myself, so I feel like they did the best they could with the buttons that the 3DS had available for them. By the time I finished the game, just like when I first beat it on PS2 years ago, all I wanted to do was immediately play the game all over again. As far as my personal preferences go, Snake Eater earned its way to the number one slot on the 3DS list, even if the iffy controls had me doubting that possibility at first.

Release Date: December 6, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar North
Genre: Action

After releasing Grand Theft Auto III - 10th Anniversary, Rockstar decided to go ahead and add Vice City to the mix as well once that game hit the 10 year mark, too. In regards to the original versions of the game, I prefer GTA III to Vice City, but with smartphones, Vice City gets the not with some improved touch screen controls and the option of having a custom radio station while driving around. The combat in the game has aged a little, but just about everything else is just as fun to play today as it was ten years ago. It's a great way to visit a parody of 80's Miami on the go.

Release Date: November 29, 2012 (AU)
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Genre: Shooter - First-Person

Far Cry 3 is mildly like the Elder Scrolls or recent Fallout games in that you get to wander around the game's world, sandbox style. Unlike the Bethesda titles listed above, the glitches are few and very far between. Wandering around the beautiful, colorful, tropical islands in Far Cry 3 is a joy...And using stealth and the environments to hide and wipe out enemies without them even knowing you're there is just plain fun...And don't forget the wild animals, who are on nobody's side. My favorite memory from this game is watching a tiger tackle one of my enemies off of a pier, into the water, resulting in both of them drowning...I got to loot the enemy's body and I got a free tiger skin out of the deal as well. Random events like that give you a neat feeling of never knowing what will happen next, resulting in some very fun moments whenever you pop the game disk in.

Release Date: June 12, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
Genre: Action

Lollipop Chainsaw is everything I wanted it to be - a cheesy B-movie-like game that actually plays well. The Onechanbara games came close to that, but fell a little short in the gameplay department. Not so with Lollipop Chainsaw, which I enjoyed my time with so much that I wanted to start a new game immediately upon beating it. The game does begin to get repetitive after a while, but the game is at a near perfect length of 4-5 hours and ends once that feeling of repetition begins to appear. The jokes are also pretty comical now, but nearly all of them are based on today's pop culture, so folks playing this ten years from now will likely not get many of the references. All that said, I'm a huge fan of this game and I'm hoping that this isn't the last time we get to help Juliet murder hoards of zombies.

Release Date: May 31, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Genre: Board

Fortune Street Smart is free to download (but to play the full game, you have to make an in-game purchase of $4.99), and I made the mistake of downloading it. I say mistake because the first time I played the game, I played it for six hours straight. Yes, I was that addicted. Shortly thereafter, I made the in-game purchase to unlock the full game, and once again lost several hours of my life playing the quest modes and just playing normal games on the various stages. What makes Fortune Street so addicting is that it takes the basic premise of Monopoly and adds more strategy to it with stocks. You can actually win the game without owning a single property if you play the stocks correctly. If you don't want stocks complicating things, you can play "Easy mode" which eliminates them from the game. Known as Itadaki Street in Japan, this long-running series' iPhone debut's only real flaw is one that I rarely complain about - multiplayer. You can play with friends on a single iPhone, however an option to play online with a friend is not present, which is a shame as a board game like this would be perfect for online play with friends and strangers alike. But regardless of that fact, I've put in more hours into this gem than I ever imagined I would upon downloading it. It's easily one of my favorite games on the iPhone that I've played thus far.

Release Date: October 23, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Dennaton
Developer: Dennaton
Genre: Action

Hotline Miami got a lot of criticism from people for how it "glorifies violence." I think those folks haven't actually played the game. Yes, this is a very violent title...One look at the "box art" will tell you that...But the violence is part of the story - it's not there just for the sake of having violence in the game. With that out of the way, Hotline Miami's gameplay reminds me a little bit of Super Meat Boy in that you'll likely die a lot when you play, but upon death, the level restarts again instantly, and the levels don't take too long to complete, so usually the constant deaths don't get too frustrating. As long as you don't mind a little (okay, a lot) pixelated gore, Hotline Miami is a very solid indie title to get behind.

Release Date: October 30, 2012 (AU)
Publisher: THQ
Developer: THQ
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

WWE '12 was supposed to be a big deal...And it wasn't bad, but it did feel like a step backwards. WWE '13 gets the franchise back on track, and is one of the better WWE games to come out for this generation of consoles, but it's not quite the "revolution" that it claims to be. However, there are a lot more customization options than in the past, which is great, and the addition of the Attitude era wrestlers, arenas, and storylines is a great bit of nostalgia for fans, like myself, that remember that time fondly. There are better wrestling games out there, but WWE '13 is still one of the best wrestling titles to come out in years.

Release Date: March 15, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Media Vision
Genre: RPG

Chaos Rings put the player in situations where they were forced to battle other people to the death. Chaos Rings II takes that to a whole new level, forcing the player to choose a character to kill in a sacrificial manner. It really made me feel uncomfortable as the choice alone is difficult at points since some of the characters are likable (and the ones that aren't actually become likable...right before you kill them) but Chaos Rings II takes it further - instead of a cut scene, you're forced to manually deal the killing blow. It's good, effective storytelling. Aside from the different story, the gameplay is largely the same as the first two Chaos Rings with only a few minor differences and additions. The fact that the gameplay is largely the same is really the only problem I have with this sequel. If you liked the first one, Chaos Rings II, steep price and all, is worth the purchase.

Release Date: December 16, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Grey Dog Software
Developer: Grey Dog Software
Genre: Wrestling - Simulation

Ever want to take control of the WWE and take it to new heights? How about taking control of promotions like CHIKARA, ROH, NJPW, or AAA and having them overtake the WWE as the top promotion in the world? How about going back in time and booking WCW in attempt to prevent it from being sold to Vince McMahon? Or even going back to the territory days of the early 80's and see if you can fight off the WWF from taking over your territory and going national? You can do all of that in TEW 2013. I booked promotions from 1970 to 2017 and loved all 47 years of it. If a wrestling simulator that has you in charge of hiring and firing talent, making television deals, booking shows, etc. sounds interesting to you, then get Total Extreme Wrestling 2013 - you'll very likely fall in love with it like I did.

Release Date: 2012 (NA)
Publisher: stabyourself.net
Developer: stabyourself.net
Genre: Platformer

If Mari0 was simply a Mario clone with the gun from Portal tossed in as a gimmick, I wouldn't have scored this as high as I did. The thing that makes Mari0 so good is the extra stuff. The fact that you can create your own levels and share them with others is neat in itself...And the levels are created with portal uses in mind. That's not to say that the original Super Mario Bros. isn't fun with the portal gun - watching the Hammer Bros. kill themselves with their own hammers via portals or sending a Bullet Bill through a portal to kill a Goomba is good fun...But, Mari0 shines brightest with the user-created content. The best part? It's free. Head over to stabyourself.net/mari0/ to get yourself a copy.

Release Date: December 17, 2012 (ALL)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Platformer

Street Fighter X Mega Man is an interesting crossover, replacing the various robot bosses in your standard Mega Man game with various fighters from the Street Fighter franchise. The result is actually quite good. I'd go as far as to say that the end result is amazing, honestly. The gameplay, though a bit more forgiving than your standard Mega Man title (E Tanks are everywhere), is just as fun as any other Mega Man game you've played. Many of the level designs are simply amazing...Two particular ones I enjoy are the C. Viper level with the "intruder" laser beams and Dhalsim's maze-like level. The soundtrack is also tremendous, mixing various Mega Man level themes with Street Fighter level themes. If you're a fan of both series, the soundtrack alone is a good reason to play. The game isn't without faults, though. The main one being a lack of a save system of any kind. Heck, I'd settle for a password system, but alas, there's nothing. The game is fun enough to play through in one sitting, but the fact that you HAVE to kinda stinks. That said, this is still a solid game and it's also free. Free is good, just like this game.

Release Date: November 18, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Genre: Adventure

Over a year after its initial release, Batman: Arkham City was slightly modified for the Wii U launch and came with all the downloadable content already on the disk and ready to play. The Wii U version also includes two ways to play with the Wii U controller - you can play mainly with the television, occasionally having to look down at the Wii U controller for specific things like hacking or going through your menus or you can play the entire game just on the controller itself, which may be handy if you live in a household where you share a television and want to play the game, but don't want to hog the tv. If you loved it on the 360/PS3, you'll likely love it here as well...Likewise, if you've never played it before, get it - you'll be in for a treat.

Release Date: April 19, 2012 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Agatsuma Entertainment
Genre: Action - Brawler

Code of Princess is one of the better brawlers that I've played in a long time...It plays kind of like Guardian Heroes, with a gameplay style that mixes brawler-style gameplay of battling numerous foes at once with Street Fighter-like button commands and Fatal Fury-like multi-plane fighting. Code of Princess also tosses in an RPG-ish leveling-up system, allowing you to boost the stats of whatever character you're playing as from the roster of 50+ unlockable folks. With plenty of characters to unlock and the ability to play with up to three others both locally and online, Code of Princess provides plenty of replay value for brawler fans.

Release Date: October 11, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action

I really did not expect this to be such a great port...But it really is. Absolutely everything is intact here, including the original soundtrack. The only real differences are the touch-screen controls, which aren't too shabby, and achievements to acquire. This game, like many arcade ports, is perfect for a handheld device as each game only takes a few minutes to play (unless you choose to play a longer round, like 10 minutes) which makes it easy to pick up and put down whenever. If you're a fan of the Dreamcast version of Crazy Taxi, then you'll absolutely love this great, portable version.

Release Date: October 4, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Ndemic Creations
Developer: Ndemic Creations
Genre: Strategy

I never thought that wiping out the entire planet by spreading and evolving a disease could be so addicting...But Plague Inc. ensured that I spent hours of my life just staring at my smartphone screen, watching a map of the planet slowly turn red as I watch my infection (which I named Pnuenza) cover the world. The unique strategy of making your disease spread without anyone noticing, and then evolving the disease to being fatal once everyone has it is refreshing. If you just make it fatal immediately, airports shut down, borders are closed, and you won't get it spread. If you're more stealthy, you might be able to make it to the olympics and watch with glee as the world games spread your plague all over the planet. Of course, people will try to find a cure and you've got to try to prevent that as well. It's such a simple game...And yet, it's extremely addicting. I highly recommend it.

Release Date: May 1, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: NeatherRealm Studios
Genre: Fighting

I was a huge fan of the console version of Mortal Kombat last year, so naturally I was interested in a portable version of the game. The story mode was just as entertaining as it was when I played through it on the consoles, and plowing through the arcade mode with every character was equally fun. This version of the game also includes new, bonus challenge tower missions to enjoy as well as all four DLC characters available right out of the box, alongside Kratos from God of War. This isn't just the best fighting game I've played so far on the Vita, it's one of the best games I've played on the Vita, period.

Release Date: November 18, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Namco Bandai Games
Developer: Namco Bandai Games
Genre: Fighting

Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition is the same, solid fighting game that you'll find on the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, but with a few extras - the most notable being the return of Tekken Ball, the quirky and fun mesh of fighting and volleyball. Also new to the Wii U version is the mushroom battle, where the famous mushrooms from Super Mario Bros. appear on the Tekken battlegrounds, allowing you or your opponent to grow to tremendous size, dwarfing your unfortunate opponent. Keeping with the Nintendo theme, there are also Nintendo costumes to unlock for the fighters and all that fun stuff. So, you get the fighting quality you'd expect from a Tekken game, plus a few bonuses for choosing to play it on Nintendo's new console...Not too shabby.

Release Date: February 15, 2012 (US)
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Q Entertainment
Genre: Puzzle

Electronic Symphony is the first new installment in the Lumines series in about half a decade...That being said, the Lumines that folks fell in love with on the PSP is back in fine form on the Vita. In addition to the addicting puzzle gameplay, the Vita also supplies you with some really stunning visuals, making this a game that's almost as fun to watch as it is to play. I haven't played all launch titles yet, but Lumines: Electronic Symphony has a good chance of being for the Vita what the first Lumines was for the PSP; the best launch title available for the system.

Release Date: July 25, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: EightyEight Games LTD
Developer: EightyEight Games LTD
Genre: Puzzle

I got 10,000,000 on Steam after a friend suggested it and I absolutely fell in love with it. So, after a few hours, I decided to purchase the mobile version, and it was just as fun in the palm of my hand as it was when playing on PC. In fact, I'd even argue that the mobile version is better, as the touch screen provided me with an easier time of lining up everything as I wanted. The PC version has you control a mouse, but a finger swipe from most folks is probably at least a little more accurate than a click and drag of the mouse. That said, 10,000,000 is a great little puzzle game/dungeon crawler hybrid that is well worth your money. Buy it.

Release Date: February 15, 2012 (US)
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: UBlart Montpellier
Genre: Platformer - 2D

This 2D platformer is absolutely beautiful to look at. But, like in life, beauty means nothing; it's what's inside that counts. Thankfully, Rayman Origins delivers in the gameplay department as well, offering Playstation Vita owners a very solid 2D platformer to enjoy at launch. As I type this, it's actually ranked the number one Playstation Vita game over at gamerankings.com. I still prefer Lumines: Electronic Symphony as far as launch titles go, but Rayman Origins is a very close second.

Release Date: June 28, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: TinkerHouse Games
Developer: TinkerHouse Games
Genre: RPG

Cthulhu Saves the World was originally released on PC in 2011 and is a throwback to the way RPG's used to be (in a good way) but it also adds in a few little features to make it stand out and work pretty well in today's gaming world like how random battles stop after a set number of fights in an area (you can manually start fights if you feel the need to grind) which lets you explore dungeons much, much more easily. The leveling-up system is also unique, allowing you to choose one of two bonuses at each level, letting you build your characters the way you want, to a point. Plus, with its "save anywhere" feature, it works really well with portable hardware. If you like RPGs of old, and a little comedy in your games, then Cthulhu Saves the World is a great choice.

Release Date: July 26, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: FreakZone
Developer: FreakZone
Genre: Platformer

I am going on record now and saying that Manos: The Hands of Fate is the greatest video game based on a movie that was EVER made. I've only been playing it for a few hours as I post this here, but even if I didn't love the fact that there is a game based off of this fantastically bad film, the gameplay itself itself would justify the solid placement that it has on this list. It's a solid platformer well worth the $1.99 investment to be able to play it. If you've never seen the film, I think you'll enjoy the game. If you have seen the film, you'll likely squeal with joy like I did as you play. Heck, Torgo is the first boss fight, complete with awkward walking, and his theme from the film makes an appearance after the fight with an NES-style sound to it. I am really, genuinely impressed by this game. It plays well and as a fan of the film, it makes me happy that at least something related to the movie is good enough to get solid critical reviews.

Release Date: July 26, 2012 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Arc System Works
Genre: Fighting

When fans squealed for a new Persona game, this likely isn't what they had in mind. Persona 4 Arena is a very enjoyable fighting game from Arc System Works, known for their terrific BlazBlue and Guilty Gear fighting games. Persona 4 Arena plays very much like those games during the action, but one of the real things in this game that separates it from most other fighters is the story mode, which is essentially an interactive book - You read through lots and lots of text (a written story for the character of your choice) and occasionally make a decision or fight a battle. This mode won't be for everyone, but I enjoyed it, and I assume that many fans of the Persona RPGs will enjoy this mode as well. That said, Persona 4 Arena is an impressive package that has enough for fighting game purists to love as well as enough to make it a worthwhile purchase for fans of the RPGs that rarely, if ever, play fighting games.

Release Date: December 5, 2012 (EU)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sumo Digital
Genre: Racing - Kart

I liked the first Sonic & Sega All Stars Racing on consoles. I adore this sequel even more. The first game delivered on a lot of nostalgia, allowing players to race on tracks based on various Sega franchises. This sequel adds more tracks, more drivers, more modes, more of just about everything. With Transformed, Sega and Sumo Digital may have finally done what nobody has really been able to do - created a kart racing franchise that can compete with the Mario Kart games. The fact that this Vita version is portable is just icing on the cake.

Release Date: September 11, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Electronic Arts
Genre: Sports - Hockey

While not as innovative as some of the past entries in the history of the franchise, NHL 13 is still fun and still offers at least a few new features like the "True Performance" skating and new modes like GM Connected and NHL Moments Live. Like other recent games in the franchise, NHL 13 also allows you to play in various other leagues besides the NHL, like the "minor league" AHL, or various other leagues around the globe, meaning that I could play a season as the Colorado Avalanche, Milwaukee Admirals, Calgary Hitmen, Team Norway, or a plethora of others. It's not the most innovate hockey game in recent memory, but it's still plenty fun.

Release Date: March 13, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Vatra
Genre: Adventure - Survival Horror

I have mixed feelings about Silent Hill: Downpour. I like it more than a lot of critics seemed to, but I also came across plenty of glitches during my time playing it...some were helpful like the glitch that causes enemies to flee from you, and others irritating like the glitch I got that left a path locked in the subway after I had unlocked all routes. Also, I've got to add that I HATE the "void" enemy. Whenever I had to deal with those sections, I just groaned. All that aside, I do enjoy this game as a whole...But I can't help but feel like it could have been better.

Release Date: November 8, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Rovio Mobile
Developer: Rovio Mobile
Genre: Puzzle

Angry Birds Star Wars mixes the best of Angry Birds and the best of Angry Birds Space and mixes the two together with the Star Wars franchise to create the best game in the Angry Birds series thus far. I thought that this game would be Angry Birds "jumping the shark" so to speak, but instead it feels refreshing. With many of the birds (dressed like Star Wars folk) having new abilities, it makes toppling the pigs over feel like something new. I'm not much of a Star Wars fan, but I feel like the addition of lightsabers and the like helped breathe some new life into the Angry Birds series.

Release Date: December 4, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: BioWare
Genre: Adventure

Mass Effect started out kind of rocky with me. When I first played through it, I thought it was so-so...And eventually got bored. I played it again a year or so later and really found myself enjoying it a lot. That second time was enough to motivate me to visit the game a few games again since then, and each time I enjoy it all the same. The first Mass Effect is still my favorite in terms of gameplay, story, and exploration. The two sequels just don't live up to this one, in my opinion. The PS3 version, released more than six years after the original, is still fun, but littered with a lot of bugs and glitches...Not enough to kill the game, but enough where I can't justify giving it a higher score.

Release Date: October 24, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Twinbeard Studios
Developer: Twinbeard Studios
Genre: Action

I labeled Frog Fractions as an 'action' game...But it has parts of the game that are action, bullet-hell shooter, text adventure, economy simulator, and a few others all rolled into one bizarre little package. The game takes about 30-40 minutes to beat and is well worth the time and effort to do so. This is the game that I would make if I were a game developer...Really odd, and all over the place....But still entertaining. It's free to play and can be found at twinbeardstudios.com/frog-fractions .

Release Date: June 12, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Double Eleven
Genre: Platformer

LittleBigPlanet PS Vita is fun...But to me it felt like more of the same. Yeah, there's plenty of new stuff to do and the game takes advantage of the Vita's touch screen and the like to offer some variety in the gameplay...But I just was never really "wowed" like I was by the very first game in the series. That said, this is still a very good, solid platformer and well worth playing, especially for the often-entertaining user-created levels, but aside from this being in portable form, I really fail to see any reason to get this game if you've already got any of the previous games in the franchise - unless you're a LittleBigPlanet nut, in which case you'll likely be in heaven here.

Release Date: July 12, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: HyperDevbox Japan
Developer: HyperDevbox Japan
Genre: RPG - Strategy

Spectral Souls is a full-sized, 100+ hour, strategy-based RPG similar to Final Fantasy Tactics, except with a darker feel to it. I'm a few hours in and loving it so far. The combat system is a little unique, as you can attack as many times as you wish during your turn, so long as you have enough AP to do so. The game is free to download, but you'll have to make an in-app purchase to unlock the full game after fighting three battles if you wish to continue on with the story. The price tag of $13.99 may seem pretty hefty, but as I mentioned before, this is a 100+ hour game...14 cents an hour for a game this enjoyable isn't too bad of a price.

Release Date: November 26, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: MDickie
Developer: MDickie
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

With the success of Wrestling Revolution Pay Per View, MDickie decided to port over his Wrestling MPire PC game to 2D and with touch controls for smartphones. The end result is quite possibly the best wrestling game available on iTunes or the Android's Google Play market. There are over 300 wrestlers available, which MDickie incorrectly boasts is the largest roster in a wrestling game ever (see Fire Pro Wrestling Returns' 500+ roster for that title) but it's impressive nonetheless. Most of them are parodies of real wrestlers...Slam Dunk is CM Punk, Machine Miuri is Mitsuharu Misawa, Upside Frown is Bad News Brown, etc. And with the ability to edit and re-name every character in the game, it wouldn't be hard for players to give the grapplers their real names. It's not perfect - the touch controls are difficult to work with when not using an iPad (but a touch controller option is there, which helps), kicking out of moves seems to be based on luck rather than mashing buttons, the computer kicks out illogically (Hit your finisher? Kick out. Land a punch? Three count.), and the career mode puts you in WAAAAY too many matches that aren't one-on-one or two-on-two...but despite those flaws, wrestling fans will likely fall in love with this game, which may be the best wrestling title on smartphones, flaws and all.

Release Date: August 30, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: NTT Resonant Inc.
Developer: NTT Resonant Inc.
Genre: RPG

Dragon Island Blue is the closest thing that iTunes has to a quality answer to Nintendo's ultra-popular Pokemon games...And if you've got the "gotta catch 'em all" mentality, then you'll likely become as addicted to this game as I was...While there's no in-game clock, I wouldn't doubt it if I spent somewhere between 50-60 hours playing this. At first glance, this game looks laughable (especially if you look at the screens for exploring dungeons) but it's really a solid game. The thing preventing a higher score is that the game was published with no end...And six months and a few updates later, the story that builds up as you play still has absolutely no point or conclusion. But, the gameplay itself is solid enough that I still feel justified in giving it a good score.

Release Date: November 27, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Terry Cavanagh
Developer: Terry Cavanagh
Genre: Action

Super Hexagon is a game I like to play if I've got about five minutes to kill, but don't want to go on a gaming marathon. The concept is simple - move the triangle left and right and avoid hitting walls. That's it. There's a catch, though. The triangle is on a rotating, hexagon-shaped platform and the walls are closing in on you at a fast pace. Even on easy (which is labeled as 'hard') most people will die before they hit ten seconds on their first try. Like the games of old, the more you play, the better you get and the longer you can last, which not only makes this a fun game in small doses, but it gives you a sense of accomplishment each time you surpass your previous record. It's fun, it's simple, it's cheap...It's worth owning.

Release Date: October 17, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Stainless Games
Developer: Stainless Games
Genre: Racing

Carmageddon is one of those "way too violent" video games that ended up being pulled from store shelves back when it was originally released. The idea that going out of your way to plow over pedestrians was an activity that was rewarded in this game was too much, apparently. But anyway, this is a port of the infamous PC game, and it transfers over pretty well to iPhone. It's a blast to play, but the main flaw lies in one of the more compelling aspects of the game at the same time - the large area to explore outside of the main track. Once you begin to explore, it's easy to lose track of where you're supposed to be headed. But, at the same time, I fail to think of another game where I can hit an abominable snowman with my car and watch its body explode like a gory firework blast. Senseless violence, but still some solid gameplay.

Release Date: February 15, 2012 (US)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: XDEV
Genre: Shooter

This Playstation Network download is a fantastic purchase for new owners of the Playstation Vita, especially for those looking for a cheap, new game to play with their expensive, new handheld. Fans of Super Stardust on the Playstation 3 will be glad to see that Delta is just as fun as the original, plus with some new features tossed in for good measure. It's not quite as good as Geometry Wars, in my opinion, but it's definitely a great alternative for Playstation Vita owners.

Release Date: November 18, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Compilation

Nintendo Land is a compilation of mini games that shows off all the features of the Wii U, similar to how Wii Sports did the same for the original Wii. The games found within are varied in quality. Games like Pikmin Adventure, Balloon Trip Breeze, and Octopus Dance are pretty dang fun and addicting. Others, like Captain Falcon's Twister Race and Takamaru's Ninja Castle aren't horrible...But not all that fun, either. Playing games earns coins, which you can use to play another mini game to unlock items that range from ornaments to decorate the theme park to more interactive things like a music player or a switch to change the time of day at the park. As a whole, this is a worthwhile purchase. The good games make up for any stinkers and it'll help you familiarize yourself with what the Wii U can do.

Release Date: November 18, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Genre: Adventure - Survival Horror

ZombiU has a pretty awesome premise to it - if you get bitten by a zombie, it's game over for the character that you're controlling. You then start the game again in the shoes of a new person, and you can actually hunt down the person you had previously controlled and kill their zombie form to regain items and the like that you once had. The game itself is good, but not great. The melee combat feels a bit clunky...And I found myself watching the map on the Wii U controller more than I was watching the actual screen, which probably took away from any creepy atmosphere that the game was trying to create. It's also hard to be scared when the game gives you radar to use, so you know when something dangerous is nearby. But those knocks aside, this is still a good and very playable first-person, survival horror title for the system.

Release Date: February 22, 2012 (EU)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Honeyslug Ltd
Genre: Action

Frobisher Says! is a Wario Ware-like free game on the Playstation Network. In my opinion, adding a bunch of new mini games to this release and tossing it onto a game card, this would have been a MUCH better game to show off all of the Vita's fancy features than Little Deviants was. That said, for a free game, you're still likely to get plenty of enjoyment of this title...Especially if you're a fan of the odd.

Release Date: November 20, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action

If you told me back when the Dreamcast was released that I'd be able to play Jet Set Radio/Jet Grind Radio on a handheld system while I sat on the toilet, I'd call you a liar, liar pants on fire. Yet sure enough, here we are and Jet Grind Radio has found itself on the Vita system. It's still a great game and still fun to play, but it has lost a little bit in the fact that it's not new, fresh, and different anymore. But, if you're a fan of the original, it'll be nice to have it available on your Vita so you can play it whenever and wherever you want.

Release Date: March 22, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Rovio Mobile
Developer: Rovio Mobile
Genre: Puzzle

Angry Birds Space is more of the same...Except with the setting being in space. Being in space, the physics are all different from the original Angry Birds making this a game with a "more of the same" feeling, but also giving you a feeling of playing something brand new at the same time. As of right now, I slightly prefer the original over this version of the game, but the more I play, my mind may change...So don't be surprised if this game moves up or down from this position in the future.

Release Date: February 15, 2012 (US)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Racing - Kart-Style

I loved the PS3 ModNation Racers, and I'm hooked on this one, too....But it's not without a few flaws. First, the load times are horrible...Sometimes being forced to wait around 60 seconds before the race starts. Secondly, playing against others is dumbed down to the point where you can't have a head-to-head race online...The best you can do is race against the ghost data that others upload to the internet. Honestly, that doesn't really bother me, as I'm not much of an online fellow, but I can see (and have seen) plenty of people throw a fit due to the way they handled that online stuff. But anyway, this isn't as good as the PS3 version of ModNation Racers, but it's still pretty fun and a nice addition to the Vita library for anyone who loves kart-style racers.